Sidamo: A Region or Coffee? Rich Sweet Fruity Aroma of Guji Sidamo Coffee Beans

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FrontStreet Coffee - Sidamo Region Introduction

As one of Ethiopia's premium coffee-producing regions, Sidamo is globally renowned for its "Hagua" (Horse Governor) variety. All of FrontStreet Coffee's Hagua coffee beans come from the Sidamo region, from version 2.0 to 3.0 to the latest 3.1. The rich fruity aroma is the most alluring characteristic.

Geographic Location and Characteristics

The premium Sidamo region is located in southern Ethiopia, southwest of the Yirgacheffe area. Experienced coffee enthusiasts know that Ethiopian coffee has always been synonymous with specialty coffee and is among the world's finest coffees. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. Ethiopian coffees are basically named after their producing regions. For example, the well-known Yirgacheffe region produces Yirgacheffe coffee, and the Sidamo region produces Sidamo coffee—named after their respective regions.

The industry in the Sidamo region is predominantly agricultural. The coffee-growing areas are located around the East African Rift Valley, at altitudes ranging from 1,500 to 2,200 meters, featuring high elevation, abundant sunshine, and plentiful rainfall.

The greatest advantage of this region lies in its soil fertility, which is maintained through the cycling of organic matter, using fallen leaves from surrounding trees or residual plant roots as fertilizer. The pristine growing environment creates distinct differences and characteristics in the coffee produced by each town.

Coffee Processing Methods

The processing method of coffee profoundly influences its flavor expression, and Sidamo coffee is no exception. Washed Sidamo coffee features bright, clean taste characteristics, with fresh fruit flavors, straightforward floral notes, and a bright, clear texture.

Natural processed Sidamo coffee exhibits rustic yet rich fruity flavors—sweet, juicy, with ripe fruit notes and a body reminiscent of red wine. For example, Sidamo Hagua reveals the sweetness of passion fruit, which appears in both the dry aroma and the aftertaste. High-quality natural processed coffee requires more meticulous care, with higher demands on weather conditions and coffee cherry ripeness, making it more precious than washed coffee. This differentiation applies to almost all coffees.

The Renowned Hagua Coffee

Sidamo's coffee flavors are incredibly diverse due to different soil compositions, regional microclimates, and countless native coffee varieties, creating distinct differences and characteristics in the coffee produced by each town area. Among these is the famous specialty coffee "Hagua."

"Hagua" is a product of DW Company, which owns its own coffee estate in Ethiopia. The unique geographical location and special microclimate environment of Hagua Estate have cultivated coffee varieties with flavors different from those in other Ethiopian regions. The coffee harvesting and processing season occurs annually (December-January). We require farmers to harvest red cherries with sugar content above 30 before beginning natural processing. This ensures the moisture content of the red cherries, allowing their fructose to fully begin fermentation. Meanwhile, the high-altitude location allows the processing station's nighttime temperature to drop to around 12°C, preventing over-fermentation odors due to excessive heat. During midday when temperatures are higher, shading is applied to prevent sun damage to the red cherries. At night, thick plastic sheets are used for wrapping to prevent sudden rainfall.

This allows the red cherries to ferment and dehydrate at relatively low temperatures. After 18 days of natural processing, when the moisture content of the green coffee beans drops to around 13%, the natural processing is stopped. The beans are then packed in jute bags and stored in warehouses under natural conditions of 12-22°C and 45-55% humidity for approximately 50 days of bean resting and further dehydration. When the green coffee beans reach a moisture content of about 11%, they are transported to the processing station for hulling, screening, and sale.

During the annual harvest season in December, the mountains are covered with red coffee cherries. This is "Hagua" Estate, where neatly arranged traditional African drying beds at the village entrance serve as the processing station for "Hagua."

Knowledge Expansion

Artificially hand-picked fruits and coffee beans used for specialty coffee are processed using African Beds for natural processing. Coffee cherries are spread on breathable, mesh-like beds to enjoy sunbathing, with thickness varying according to local conditions.

FrontStreet Coffee's Commitment

In summary: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research establishment dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation, hoping to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three coffee promotion events with significant discounts because FrontStreet Coffee wants to help more friends enjoy the finest coffee at the lowest possible prices—this has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past six years!

Important Notice :

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